Davenport bed



J R. THOMAS July 16, 1935.

DAVENPORT BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 1v INVENTOR: 'Joaepfz 12. 7720772626;

Filed Feb. 18, 1932 TORNEY July 16, 1935. 1 TH A 2,007,988

DAVENPORT BED Filed Feb. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Lbcicpfz f2. 7742 am; '33 M M dz/mwazz TORNEY' July 16, 1935- J. R. THOMAS 2,007,988

DAVENPORT BED Filed Feb. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOIIR:

v Lf wp/zJZT/wmw g M40. a/WLM ATTORNEY July 16, 1935. I J R, THOMAS 2,007,988

DAVENPORT BED Filed Feb. 18, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR: @5630 J? 772077206 5 45: w wmu ATTORNEY Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT .oFFm

19 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a davenport having sections foldable below and at the rear of the seat and adapted to be extended in front of the frame to form a bed.

Among the objects of the invention are; to provide a number of sections mounted in a frame below and behind the seat section which are pulled into alignment with the back section between the'other sections; to mount a folding structure of this kind in a frame upon levers; to mount the sections so that the rear section engages the underside of an upholstered back;

to provide means in connection with the supports for the bed sections for assisting the folding and unfolding movements of the sections; to provide means for locking the sections in their extended positionyto provide means for correlating'the movement of the sections in folding and unfolding them; to automatically extend and fold the supporting legs as the structure is folded and unfolded; to utilize opposite sides of one of the-sections as a seat and as a sleeping surface; to provide a sectional folding structure which requires a folding mattress of reduced size to counter-balance the movement of the sections in folding and unfolding them; and in general to produce the structures herein shown and described. Other objects will appear hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawings;

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a v folding davenport structure in accordance with the present invention, in open or extended positibn;

Fig. 2 is a top plan (i one side of the folding structure shown in Fig. 1; l Fig. 3 illustrates a sectional view of a mattress used with the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the structure of Fig. l in an intermediate position;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the structure of Fig. 1 .in a folded or closed position;

Figs. 6' and 7 are side elevations of a modified folding structure in extended and folded positions as a bed and seat respectively; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are side elevations of a modification in extended and folded positions respectively.

In folding and unfolding 'a davenport construction of this kind, it is desirable that the sections be easily movable, that they are not too heavy nor diflicult to operatethat the movement of the sections be continuous and in one direction from the point or place of operation, that the movement is simple and not likely to get out of order, and that when the sections are folded or extended they will maintain their limiting positionsuntil they are positively actuated to the other position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a davenport frame I is represented generally as having an upholstered back 2 secured at the top and bottom upon fixed cross pieces 3 and 4 and slack between them, having springs 5 tending to press the upholstered part forwardly and providing a space at the back of the frame for receiving a rear bed section which extends vertically behind and above the seat.

Folding sections designated generally as a seat section 6, a back section I and a lower section 8 are connected. for joint cooperative movement to fold within the frame as shown in Fig. 5, and to extend in alignment in front of the frame as shown in Fig. 1. When folded to form a seat, a. loose cushion or cushions 9 are commonly placed upon the seat section and abutting the lower end of the upholstered back 2, and these cushions are first removed before extending the sections.

A folding mattress, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises a spring filled portion III adapted to rest upon the sections I and 8 and an attached pad portion ll adapted to rest upon a spring filled portion II which forms a part of the seat section 6 and is connected to the upper side of the portion l0 at a point I la at a distance from the adjacent end thereof by a. thin strip II b forming a continuation or extension of the pad II which makes a smooth joint between the mattress sections when unfolded and allows the seat section to overturn and stand substantially at right angles to the-back section in folding and when folded as shown in'Figs. 4 and 5. When the sections are folded as shown in Fig.5, the spring filled portion III carried by the seat section I presses against the inner surface of the upholstered back 2 pressing the latter outwardly and adding to the resilience thereof. By using the spring filled seat portion l2 as a portion of this mattress, the mattress portion In is reduced to that extent.

The bed sections each comprise frame and supporting parts preferablyv of angle-iron and the the lower end of the upholstered back 2. The lever I1 is mounted upon a pivot I9 intermediate its ends and supported by the frame, and the other end of the lever has a projection 2!] cross connected to the opposite one by a bar 20 to which one end of a spring 2| is attached, the other end of the spring being connected to a fixed portion of the frame. The arm l5 has a spring 22 attached thereto and to a fixed point 23 on the frame, the springs 2| and 22 tending to counterbalance the bed sections in their movement .into and out of the frame. By being pivoted to the inside of the bar I4, the arm I5 is free to swing out of the path of the lever ll. For the folded position of the lever H, as shown in Fig. 5, a stop 24 is provided on the frame to engage and limit the movement of the lever and the bed section 8 is supported by the cross piece 20*- above the floor and to hold the bed sections in their proper position in the frame.

The back section I has an end bar 25 which is connected to the seat section by links 26 and 2f, the link 26 being in the form of a bell crank and having a pivot 28 at one end connecting it to the bar I3 and a pivot 29 at the other end connecting it to the bar 25. The other link 2'! is connected by a pivot 30 at one end to a fixed bracket 3i extending from the adjacent end of the bar i3 and providing an offset for the end bar 25 below the bar l3 when the bed sections are in open position as shown in Fig. 1. Connected to the angle of the bell crank lever 26 by means of a pivot 32 is a lever 33 for correlating the movement of the sections. A leg 35 is pivoted at its upper end on the bar 25 and has an operating link 35 pivoted at one end to the upper end of the leg 35 and at its other end by means of a pivot 31 to the link 33 intermediate the ends of the latter. This leg has a roller 38 at its lower end adapting it to move freely in contact with the fioor in folding and unfolding the bed.

At each end of the bed section B is a bar 39 directly pivoted to the end bar 25 of the back section 1 by brackets 40 and 4| extending from the upper side of the bars in their extended position as shown in Fig. l and the sections being also connected by means of a pivot 42 at the end of the link 33 which engages the bracket 40. To support the outer section 8, a leg 43 is pivoted at its upper end to the bar 39 and it is connected by means of a link 44 pivoted at one end to the link 33 and at the other end to the leg, this leg also carrying a roller 38 at its lower end for contact with the floor in folding and unfolding.

With this construction it will be seen that there is a controlling connection between the sections comprising the link 33 which is pivoted at one end directly upon ,the lower or outer section 8,

, intermediate the ends to the end of link 36, and

at the other end to the link 26 which is connected both to the bar 25 by pivot 29 and to the bar l3 by pivot 28 at its other end so that when the sections are extended as shown in Fig. 1 they are locked in alignment by the pivot points 42, 32 and 28 of the connected levers 26. and 33, and cannot be collapsed except by raising upwardly on the outer side of the section B at the end of the bed, but as soon as the outer end is raised slightly the links 33 cause the sections to assume the position shown approximately in Fig. 4 and the inward movement of the sections in folding them causes the seat section to be raised, partially inverted, allowing the other sections to slip under it, and to swing upwardly at the rear and below the seat as the seat is controlled by the links 33 in inverting the seat section upon its supporting levers l1 and arms l5. In folding the structure, the lifting of the outer side of section 8 causes a pull on link 26 and pushes on link 21, and as these links are crossed when the sections are extended, the accompanying inward movement together of sections 8 and 25 swings the seat section inwardly uponits arms l5 and I1 partially inverting it, raising the end of the locking link 33, permitting an out of alignment movement of the sections with respect to each other, and the links 26 and 21 together with the locking link 33 control the inverting movement of the seat sec tion as well as the movement and positioning of the other sections 8 and 25 which thereupon assume a substantially right angle position when folded in which they are locked by link 33 as shown in Fig. 5. In both the folding and unfolding movements, the weight of the seat section is borne by the levers H and arms i5 and that of the sections I and B is carried by the legs 35 and 33 so that very little eifort is required in folding and unfolding the bed. By raising the outer side of section 8 sufficiently the legs need not touch the floor either in the folding or unfolding movement, the connected links and levers at the sides of the sections entirely controlling the folding, positioning and unfolding thereof.

At the outer side of the section 8 is a front or panel board 43 which closes the space below the seat section at the front of the frame. In their folded positions the legs 35 and 43 are raised from contact with the floor so that they offer no obstruction to the movement of the frame i when it is used as a davenport. To assist in operating the legs 43 and the connected parts, a spring 45 may be connected at one end to the upper end of the leg 43 and at the other end to the bar 39.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and '7 there are three sections 5|, 52 and 53 mounted in a frame 54 to be pulled outwardly and the seat section 53 to be inverted at the outer end of the other two. The rear section 5| which is stored behind an upholstered back 55 in the frame is mounted upon side arms 56 and links 51, the latter pivoted at one end to the rear of the section 5| and above and behind the upholstered back 55 by a pivot 58 secured to the frame. Each arm 56 is pivoted at its upper end to a side extension 59 which projects above a mattress 60 carried by the bed sections but at this point the upward projection is not objectionable because the arms of the frame 54 extend above the projection. A stop Bl limits the forward movement of each link 51 and a stop 62 limits its folding in the frame. A stop 63 limits the folding movement of each arm 56 and when unfolded or extended it is inclined forwardly as shown in Fig. 6, so that the bed section 5| is held firmly in extended position without danger of collapsing. At the front of the frame is a footboard 64 to close the space below the seat which is moved by means of links 65 connected at one end to the front board 64 and at the other end to the supporting arm 56.

A supporting leg 66 is pivoted at its upper end to each side of the section 52 and has an operating link 61 pivoted at one end to the upper portion of the leg and pivoted at its other end to a bracket extension 68 of the bed section 5| so that in folding and unfolding the sections, the leg will be correspondingly and automatically actuated.

To support the outer or seat section 53, legs 69 are pivoted at their upper ends to both sides of the section, and each leg is actuated by means of an arm 19 pivoted at one end to the upper end of the leg and connected at the other end by means of a pivot 'II- to a link 12. The link 12 is pivoted at one end to the adjacent end of the bed section 52 and is connected at its other end to a pivot 13 carried by a frame extension 14 of the section 53. Another link I5 is pivotally connected at its ends to the two sections 52 and 53 and a stop 16 is located on the section 53 to limit the movement of this link 15 with respect to the sec,- tion 53 in one direction, thus keeping the sections 52 and 53 in alignment when they are unfolded.

In order to co-ordinate the movement of the sections in folding and unfolding, there is a connecting link at each side of the folding sections connected by means of a pivot 18 at one end with the section 5| and connected at its other end by means of a pivot 19 with the link 12 which is connected to the outer sections 53 when unfolded, thereby providing a self locking connection between the three sections 5|, 52 and 53 which holds them in alignment when they are unfolded, thereby preventing the sections from collapsing at any point due to an unusual weight being placed upon them and insuring that the sections fold properly together and within the frame when changing the structure from a. bed to a seat. In folding this structure the outer side of section 53 is raised swinging it upon links 12 and 15 until the adjacent pivot 19 of the locking link 11 is raised above the pivot of link 12 which allows the three sections 5|, 52 and 53 to swing out of alignment and to fold within the frame with the sections 5| and 52 substantially at right angles as shown in Fig. 7.

In this. form of the invention a portion 88 of the seat cushion is mounted at one side of the frame for the section 53 so that it is inverted to form a seat as shown in Fig. 7, and a separate or loose seat cushion 8| may also be placed upon it, fitting against the upholstered back 55 and concealing a lifting strap 82 by means of which the sections are easily folded and unfolded.

To limit the unfolding movement of the sections and to hold them in alignment, a stop projection 83 is provided on the frame section 5| close to its pivotal connection with the section 52 and engaged by the latter. A continuous mattress 84 may be secured to or form a part of the folding sections, the mattress being folded as shown in broken outline in Fig. 7 and that portion supported by the inner section 5| preferably engages the under side of the upholstered back 55 for holding it in distended position.

The modification shown by Figs-8 and 9 is similar in construction and operation to the other forms with thedifference that the outer or seat section is folded or collapsed in the frame without inverting the section.

In this form of the invention, bed sections 85 and 86 are hinged directly together by means of a pivot 81 and with a stop 88 for limiting their hinging movement in one direction. An outer or seat section 89 is mounted to swing without inverting upon parallel links 90 and 9| which connect the sections 86 and 89 for such movement, the link 90 being pivoted near one end to a projection 92 of the section 86 and pivoted at the other end to a'projection 93 of the section 89. Supporting legs 94 and 95 are pivoted at their upper ends to the sections 86 and 89 respectively and are automatically operated by arms 95 and 91 respectively; each pivoted at one end to the corresponding leg and at the other end to the link 99 so that as the sections are folded and unfolded the legs will be correspondingly operated.

The other link 9| is pivoted at one end to the section 86 adjacent its juncture with the section 89 and at the other end it is connected by a pivot 98 with the section 89. These sections 85 and 89 are held in alignment when unfolded by means of a frame projection 99 from the section 89 which engages the link 9| and prevents a further movement of the: sections in that direction.

To close the space, the seat 'section 89 in its folded position, a footboard I89 is carried at the outer end of this seat section and is movable with it. The mattress for this type of folding structure may comprise a mattress section |0| which is secured to or carried by the seat section and a separate mattress section I02 secured to and carried by the other two sections and foldable jointly with them into a partly vertical and partly horizontal position as shown in Figure 9, the upper portion of the vertical section preferably engaging the under side of the upholstered back as previously explained.

In order to coordinate the folding action of the sections there is a direct connection between them comprising a lever I03 connected at one end by a pivot I04 with the section 85 and connected by agpivot I05 at the other end to the link 99 intermediate its connection with the sections 86 and 89. The unfolding movement of the sections carries the pivot I85 in line with or slightly below the pivots I04 on section 85 and the pivotal connection of the link 90 with the section 89 so that there is no tendency for the unfolded sections to fold or collapse if an undue weight is placed thereon at any portion, particularly in view of the engagement of the stops 88 and 99 which hold the sections in alignment.

In the various forms the sections are controlled, in their folding and unfolding movement by the coordinating levers and links at each side of the bed sections, causing them to be brought into alignment and to be properly collapsed and folded in the frame without any special action on the part of the operator to move the sections at any particular time, and in requiring any selection by the operator as to the movement or positioning of the sections, except only that he grasps the proper part and moves it in the opening or closing direction. .In folding this construction the outer section is grasped and raised, partially carbehind the other two sections and under the up- I holstered back. v

I claim:

l. A seat bed structure comprising a frame with an upholstered back spaced from the rear of the frame, a sectional seat and bed frame having connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, the back section folding uprightly behind the others and extending behind the upholsteredback,means for' mounting one of the sections to swing within the frame, and correlating means consisting solely of links and levers connecting all of the sections for collapsing, positioning and extending them in a predetermined manner as they are moved into and out of the frame.

2. In a seat bed structure, a frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, side arms pivoted to one of the sections and to the frame for mounting the section to overturn therein and to be supported thereby, supporting legs pivoted to the other sections, and correlating links and levers connected at the side of the sections and to the legs for positioning, folding and unfolding the sections and legs in a predetermined manner as they are moved into and out of the frame.

3. In a seat bed structure, a frame having an upholstered back spaced from the rear of the frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, means to mount the seat section in the frame for overturning rearwardly to form a bed, the rear section being foldable in the frame at the rear of the other two sections and into the space behind the back, and means including a locking linkage connecting the sections at the sides thereof for controlling their positioning, folding and unfolding movements independent of any but the said seat mounting means with the frame and locking the sections in folded and extended positions.

4. In a seat bed structure, a frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, means to mount the seat section for overturning rearwardly to form a bed, the connectionsbetweenthe sections also moving the back section between the other two in forming a bed, and correlating means including a controlling linkage connecting the sections at their sides and operative to fold, position and unfold them in a predetermined manner.

5. In a seat bed structure, a frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, links to mount the seat section in the frame for rearward overturning movement to form a bed, the other two sections moving outwardly from below the seat section as it is overturned, and link and lever connections with the sides of all of the sections for folding-and unfolding them in a predetermined manner independent of any connection with the frame other than that of the seat section in the frame.

6. In a seat bed structure, a frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, links to mount the seat section in the frame for rearward overturning movement to form a bed, the other two sections folding at right angles to each other below and at the rear of the seat section and movable outwardly into alignment with the back section'between the other two sections, and correlating means comprising links and levers forming a linkage connecting all of the sections at their sides for constituting the sole guiding means into and out of the frame as the seat section is overturned.

7. In a seat bed structure, a frame, seat, back, and under the seat sections, means to mount the seat section in the frame for rearward overturning movement in forming a bed, means forming a double linkage connection between the other two sections and between the back and seat sections, said connection constituting a correlating means for entirely controlling the folding, positioning and unfolding of all of the sections in moving them into and out of the frame.

8. In a seat bed structure, an overturning seat section having a mattress support when inverted, a pair of connected bed sections having mattress supporting portions at a level different than the seat mattress support when extended, means for folding the sections behind and below the seat when it is in seat position, and connected mattress sections of different height secured to the seat support and the other bed sections with an extension from the seat mattress section connected to the other mattress section at a distance from that end of the other mattress section which is adjacent the seat mattress section to span and close the space between the mattress sections .when the bed sections are extended and to maintain the connection between them as the seat section is overturned and when the sections are in folded position.

9. In a seat bed structure, a frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, means for mounting the back section in the frame to swing from a vertical position at the rear of the frame to a horizontal position in the location of the seat and for swinging the other sections into alignment with the back section to form a bed, said means consisting solely of a link and lever connection with all of the sections at the sides thereof for correlating their movement with the seat section in front of the other two sections, said connection also looking the sections both in folded and in extended positions.

10. In a seat bed structure, a frame, connected seat, back and under the seat sections, a fixed back providing a space for the back section at the rear of the frame, means for mounting the back section to swing from a vertical position at the rear of the frame to a horizontal position at the front of the frame, and link and lever structure connected to all of the sections at the sides thereof constituting the sole means for guiding and moving them into horizontal alignment with the seat section in advance of the other two sections, the said link and lever structure folding and locking the back and the under the seat section at right angles to each other when they are folded within the frame.

11. In a seat bed structure, a frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, a fixed back providing a space for the back section at the rear of the frame, means for connecting the back section in the frame to swing from a vertical to a horizontal position, side connections between the sections constituting the sole means for extending the seat section in advance of the other two sections and inverting it in moving the sections into alignment.

12. In a seat bed section structure, a frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, a fixed back providing a space for the back section at the rear of the frame, means for mounting the back section in the frame to swing from a vertical to a horizontal position, and a linkage at the side constituting the sole means for connecting the other sections to the back section, for inverting the seat section in front of the other two to form a bed and for folding and locking the back and the under the seat section at right, angles to each other below and behind the seat section when they are folded within the frame.

13. In a seat bed structuraa frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, means for mounting the back section in the frame to swing from a vertical to a horizontal position, a coordinating link and lever structure comprising said means and connecting the sides of the sections for moving the seat section in advance of the other two sections without inversion, to form a bed and to fold the sections within the frame with the back section and the under the seat section and to lock them at right angles to each other and extending below and upwardly behind and above the seat section.

14. In a seat bed structure, a frame having a fixed back extending forwardly to provide a space at the rear of the frame, connected seat, back and under-the-seat sections, the connections between the sections comprising a pair of. pivoted links connecting two of. the sections and a hinged joint between one of these sections and the third section, and a co-ordinating linkage at the sides of the sections for swinging the back section to and from the space at the rear of the frame and for. moving all of the sections in a predetermined manner into and out of alignment in front of the frame, the linkage comprising the sole means for controlling the movement of the sections.

15. A structure in accordance with claim 14 in which the two outermost bed sections when they are moved into alignment to form a bed are each provided with pivoted legs automatically actuated by arms connected with said linkage, to fold and unfold the legs in accordance with the movement of the bedsections'and said linkage in folding and unfolding the bed.

16. A sectional bed structure for seat beds comprising three sections, one having means for mounting it in a seat frame, two sections remaining being hinged together and one of the two being connected to the said one section by a pair of links, and a co-ordinating link pivoted to one of the said pair of links and to the more remote of the two hinged sections for moving all of the sections in a predetermined manner into and out of alignment in front of a frame in which the said one section is mounted.

17. In a seat bed structure, a frame, connected seat, back, and under the seat sections, side arms pivoted to one of the sections for mounting the sections to swing in the frame and to be supported thereby, supporting legs pivoted to the outer sections, a front board at the bottom of the frame, means for connecting the front board to and under the seat sections, and means to mount one of. the sections for overturning movement in the frame, said means comprising two levers at each end, one pivoted to the frame below the seat section and to the section, and the other pivoted to the seat section and to the frame behind the backand above the lower edge thereof.

19. A seat bed structure having a frame with a back spaced from the rear of the frame, an invertible seat structure comprising two levers pivoted at each end of the seat, one lever pivoted in the frame below the seat, and the other lever pivoted to the frame behind the back and above the lower edge of the back and extending below the back to uphold the seat.

JOSEPH R. THOMAS. 

